You always said you’d do the Wicklow Way…Here’s your chance to do it all in one weekend, this September for UNICEF Ireland. We are delighted to announce that our first ever trek, the UNICEF Ireland Wicklow Way Relay 2012 will take place over the weekend of Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th September. The challenge is to walk the famous 132km Wicklow Way from Clonegal Village in Carlow to Marlay Park in Rathfarnham in under 32 hours!
This is a real challenge! Most people walk the Wicklow Way in 5 or 6 days and we intend to do it in only 2! Thus, our challenge is to complete the route at speed in a team’s relay race.
How does it work?
The route is divided up into 6 sections. Each section is approximately 22km long and the target walking time for each section is about 5.5 hours. As it’s a relay, at any one time each team has two or more people on the route. Therefore, the walking does not stop from Saturday morning right through to Sunday evening. Each team also has a driver (who does not walk/run). Their responsibility is to pick up the walkers at the end of each section and have the next pair of walkers ready to ‘take the baton’ for the next section.
The see the route and change-over stations marked on the map – click here
We will kick off our relay on Saturday morning in Clonegal Village in Carlow. Here we will have a UNICEF registration desk to check people in. Then the relay begins! Each section is about 5.5 hours long and thus there is a 5.5hr break between each section. This allows the team half not walking to take a rest or grab a bite to eat in Glendalough, the historic heartland of the Wicklow Way. Our base location throughout the walk will be the Glendalough Hostel. The walking continues through Saturday night trekking beneath the stars in relay and will finish up on Sunday afternoon or evening depending upon which walking half to the team you are. Thus, each person will walk 3 sections of the Wicklow Way each. (66km each) The spectacular trail covers forest tracks, mountain paths, country roads, upland lakes, boreens, steep glacial valleys and rolling foothills. It is an exceptionally beautiful trail that is not to be missed!
The minimum number for a team is 5. Ie 4 walkers and one driver. There is no maximum number so why not get a group of friends or colleagues together. The distance is split evenly between each team. Each walker is asked to raise €500 and each driver €200. A deposit of €100 per person is required to hold a place. Please note that places are limited so book your team in now!
And to celebrate!
This is an exceptional team challenge and no big physical achievement would be complete without a celebration at the end. We would be delighted to invite all our UNICEF Ireland Wicklow Way teams to a post walk dinner celebration in the nearby famous Glenside Pub in Churchtown. We will be delighted to award everyone who takes part with a medal and there will be spot prizes and prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd team places.
You really will make a difference
It’s not every weekend that you get the chance to push yourself to the limit and to really make a difference to the lives of vulnerable children across the world. By walking the Wicklow Way in aid of UNICEF Ireland, you can achieve something extraordinary this September. Every single euro you raise will help children supported by UNICEF programmes worldwide. Please join us in our flight for child survival. Working in over 155 countries, UNICEF has saved more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organisation and we will continue to work until a day when no child dies from a preventable cause. We are voluntary funded and simply cannot do it without your support.
Are you ready to take the challenge of the Wicklow Way Relay 2012 for UNICEF Ireland? For further details or to register your team please contact Claudine or Eleanor on 01-8783000.